Hey Eric, You and I have the same feelings about O gauge trains. It's is nice to create realization but it is all to have fun. Thank you for another great video.
Pretty cool Eric. I have never even seen this set. I'm more of a scale collector, like you mentioned, but this has that nostalgia about it. I would consider buying this.
I really love this old tinplate style, it's interesting how even back in the day these were a mixture of realism and fantasy, the original tinplate S-2 was in production at a time when the real life S motor was in regular service but of course they went with these bright and shiny color schemes to be eye-catching to kids. I really do hope Lionel does more like this for future anniversary events, I would love to see a steamer in the old blue and brass of the original Blue Comet set, or a return of the Commodore Vanderbilt Hudsons.
I love the throwback stuff because it is so nostalgic, even if I didn't grow up with the prewar stuff it reminds me of the whimsical world of "toy trains" versus the realistic world of models. I love both but sometimes I miss the fun of the "toys"
I'm a major fan of your channel and a life long Lionel man. When I was quite young, one of my uncles had a pre war Lionel set that he'd put up every Christmas. I think about that layout from time to time. All the lights, signals, accessories, and of course the trains. My Lionel interest are with post war and modern era. That being said, I appreciate seeing this set. You ALWAYS do great videos.Thanks for sharing this one.
I love being enamored by the details and features of modern trains but I always come back to the cheerful whistles and horns of prewar and postwar trains.
I bought the Lionel State Set based on your review and now you got me wanting the Lionel S2-Freight Set. I've always liked tin plate, but I always felt I had to narrow my scope when collecting trains, so I have mainly stuck with Lionel Post War to the present. These Lionel recreations of their Pre-War past with modern features makes it a win/win for me. I enjoy and benefit from all your product reviews. Thank you for all your hard work putting the channel together.
Awesome set! I love all the old tinplate stuff you have and this is a nice throwback to it. Also, I can’t believe I spaced on that Eric’s trains caboose ..
Great video Eric. That’s a beautiful set! I agree with you. Realism is nice. But nothing beats running a old-school pre-war or post war train, and using your imagination.
Great to see a nod to the past with the modern sounds etc. Thanks for sharing. Now I'll have to keep an eye open for this set. It's fun to see what can be done with trains once you get away from prototypical. I am trying to complete my collection of Pratt's Hollow variations. Not a prototypical set but still lots of fun.
I actually like the old school pre-war stuff. My grandad had this set from the year that it come out. And it was to be given to my dad and then to me but when he passed away somebody stole it from hi home and we never saw it again. If i was thinking about this set back in 2017 i would have gotten one but i doing something else at the time and it slipped my mind. Maybe some day i will get this set if i get the chance to do so. But it is a nice set Eric.
I am mostly an n scaler, but i have some G but im slowly getting old lionel prewar equipment with the intention of making it more modern. Im also dabbling with some crazier ideas such as battery powered sets- but ive found entire trains for less than $50. The refurbishment is part of why i love prewar trains
I thought that was a fantastic set. I'll watch on FB and Trainz to see if any show up. Trainz had one "like new" for $475 but sold yesterday. Thanks for sharing with us.
Eric, you did it! I was so surprised that you passed on this set when issued?! I thought it was much more attractive than the NYC. I wanted to order at that time but could not swing it. Back on my Rader now. Thanks for doing this! Enjoy the set. Joe Gozzo
Very happy that you got this set, I thought it was so cool when it came out in 2017. Lionel engines based on classic lionel pieces are some of my favorites.
Years ago when you showed Tinplate models, I fell in love with the colors, but quietly wished they were available in scale. This is one of the best you've shown. I don't comment much but this was really awsome
Even with Lionel looking more prototypical and to scale now, the one thing good about Lionel up until 1959 was that they were "toys" that fueled the imagination of kids. The Bantam paperback book by Lionel called MODEL RAILROADING was like a bible to me. When I'm doing N scale, that book is still in the back of my mind. Good video.
Ive always enjoyed prewar locomotives! The colors and just how they were made make them unique! Ive restored several prewar locomotives and for their ages a lot of them are very detailed! For me it was never about the realism but the enjoyment of running my locomotives.
I to wanted to get the green S-2 but opted for the New York Central black model. I wanted to point out that the S-2 had a Whistle instead of a horn. Look closely at the model and see a stem of brass with a bowl at the base. Yes, that's the whistle. I have heard the whistle on one of the original ones at Grand Central Terminal when I was much much younger. Happy railroading!
Sweet set I remember playing with my dad's tinplate trains when I was very little than he bought my own train set which was a new Kline set when they came out in the early 70's
I have this set and I love it! I was able to purchase an extra refrigerator car being sold on it's own. I keep my eyes open for them so I can lengthen the train. I definitely would love to see Lionel release some more tinplate inspired cars and sets.
I just love all trains including the monorail trains it’s a great hobby but expensive too trains and planes are my hobbies I love your videos keep up making these great reviews on trains and your beautiful awesome layout your the best mr.Eric
You're 100 % accurate when you say people tend to suck the "fun factor" out of anything. Humans have been doing that FOREVER ! WE have a dealer that has been selling trains for almost 7 decades now, (not far from York). The entire upper walls are covered with trains just like the ones you're showing here. By the way, the store was a former Passenger Station.......and it's called......"The Station" . HOW COOL IS THAT ?????? Anyway, great video.......tinplate is DEFINITELY cool.....👍👍👍👍
I had owned during my childhood and up untill I sold my original collection of both prewar and postwar train collections, so I definitely appreciate my fond memories and delight of building my train layouts of all of those various train sets and accessories which covered a period of about 50 years of model train railroading, PJR
Hope your review does better than you expect, Eric. Old codgers like me (aged 78) live on nostalgia and childhood train sets come high up the list of memories. Wish I'd kept mine from the 1950s.
That is one nice looking set. Yeah, it would be neat if they made more like that. I think MTH did some as well, might have been standard gauge. Seems to me this set is for the tinplate collector who only collects originals. I can see how this would fit well on an all tinplate railroad but brings modern features along.
Fantastic video, Eric! Love the old pre-war locos. In the next video, I recommend that you use a knife from the Ontario Knife Company. They recently had to close up their shop, lay off people, and move a lot of business down to Virginia.
Even though tin plate is not my personal cup of tea, I still enjoy seeing stuff like this. A nice reminder of where the hobby started, and how far it's come in the last 100+ years. If I ran O-scale instead of HO i might look into having at least 1 set like this
I pre-ordered this when it was in the catalog. It is one of the favorites among visitors to my layout. It's like you said, the bright colors against the dull contrast of prototypical scenery and utilitarian PRR livery make it pop right off the track!!!!!
This really is a fine set. Maybe for the 125th anniversary they will do something similar, or at least some add on equipment. Personally though I'd like to see a rerelease of the prewar Union Pacific M10000 streamliner, but that's just me. Great review as always Eric!
Thank you so much for your enthusiasum for this type of offering. You well know my thoughts from previous posts regarding three rail. That said, your commentary and reverence are infectious, and I found myself smiiling and reliving the past with pre war O gauge Hornby. You mentioned lack of extra rolling stock to compliment this set and recalled that, I think, MTH made Tinplate replica models at one time, I believe you did a video on this. Perhaps these might help out?? Many thanks for your channel and your reminder to us to have fun....!
I can't wait to see what Lionel will be doing for their 125th anniversary in terms of offerings. Sounds like maybe a VisionLine or brass hybrid model will be offered to celebrate. I wouldn't even be surprised if they were to accept model recommendations to make for 2025. I do hope they offer either a brass hybrid or die-cast Legacy C&O J2 4-8-2 Mountain type. Everyone in O gauge especially Lionel have been making quite a bit of C&O stuff lately.
Very unique looking set I really like your unboxing video Mr Eric you do an outstanding job on all of your video's your layout should make the classic toy train magazine extraordinary layout and collection 👍🏻✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
That’s true, we all have different goals or place importance to different things. Some folks are rivet counters and scale, some eschew the third rail, etc. The original focus of Lionel though was they were a young child’s toy. I understand and respect all of these views but also want my children to enjoy it. I have a little bit of all of these in 3 rail.
Bravo for making a video on something you are passionate about vs being a slave to the YT algorithm. I like the prewar styled engine. I was also surprised with the switch under the caboose.
Incredible looking set. Would love to see another one of these from Lionel at a reasonable price point. Maybe a LionChief or LionChief plus variant to reach more people?
I have been watching your channel for years. The layout was still quite incomplete at the time. I collected o scale then and loved your videos but now years later i can find the same enjoyment with your videos, especially this one since i now collect it over o scale. The prewar inspired pieces are pretty cool. There is also a commodore Vanderbilt they did this way im not sure when but i would keep your eyes peeled for one. It is ashame lionel didn't offer more add on cars
I've had a bit of a soft spot for tinplate trains, mostly due to seeing them at various train shows, hobby shops, and catalogues over the years. Sure they're not realistic but they have a sense of fun about them.
Love this set I was also disappointed there have been no additional cars. The state set was neat and also in the same category but I just wasn’t interested in it enough for the price. Hoping they get around to doing a steam locomotive like this.
Personally I am sick and tired of Big Boy and Challenger videos. It’s nice to see something different. I love the old tin plate trains. It would be sweet to see one offered for sale every so often. But alas, I’m sure we will just get more Big Boys and Challengers.
Very nice set. I haven't got any prewar 0, just original standard gauge so I can dig it. Isn't it ironic: model builders in the thirties was full of articles on modifying 0 and SG classic era rolling stock to make them more authentic, and pre classic era the S motors were all in black, rolling stock in subdued prototypical colours or well executed lithography. So... this set is almost a set of prototypical stock reproducing Lionels efforts to move away from the prototypical stock that they had been making 100 years ago lol I could add for those who are dismissive of prewar if you measure up a gauge II Ives motor, apart from its drastic lack of wheels dimensionally its fairly close to scale. I like your Picasso analogy :)
